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(N0 MOdGl.) J LI 7 LOADING AND UNLOADING PLATFORM FOR STREET USE. No. 330,754. Patented N'dkr. 17, 1885.

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ll'nrrnn rarss JOSIAH H. L. TUOK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

LOADING AND UNLOADING PLATFORM FOR STREET USE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,754, dated November 17, 1885.

Application filed September 11, 1885. Serial No. 176. 853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOSIAH H. L. TUoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading and Unloading Platforms for Portable Street Use; and I do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices for use in loading and unloading wagons, trucks, or drays, and has for its object the provision of a means whereby the unloading or loading can be done without backing the vehicle up to the curbstone, thereby saving much unnecessary and strenuous effort on the part of the horses, and also permitting the wagon or dray to stand parallel with the curbstone, and obviating the blockading of the street, attendant upon backing the vehicle to the curb. In many streets the distance between the car-track and the curb is so limited that there is no room for another vehicle to pass after one is backed up to the curb at right angles in the ordinary manner. Great trouble and confusion are occasioned in this way in crowded thoroughfares, and by the use of my invention such inconvenience and difficulty are entirely overcome, as the vehicle can stand parallel with the curb, leaving ample room for the passage of other vehicles between it and the car-track.

My device is also useful in shortening the distance between the bottom of the vehiclebed and the receiving-surface for the unloaded goods, thereby preventing jars and breakage.

My invention consists in a light portable platform adapted to be placed along the end of a wagon, truck, or dray, when driven along parallel with the curbstone, to receive the goods as they are unloaded,or to afford a convenient means for loading. It is provided with folding legs or supports, and, when desired, with removable side boards. It may also, when necessary, have an incline on the front end, enabling the platform to be readily reached from the pavement with hand truck or barrow, or with box, bale, or barrel; also to roll or tumble boxes, bales, crates, barrels, &c., from the platform to the pavement with out jar or breakage. V

The removable side boards are to be used when any loose load is'being handled-such as coal, kindling-wood, 81c.

The details of construction and mode of operation are set out in the following description by reference to the figures and letters upon the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and illustrate what I consider the best means for carrying my invention into practice.

Figure 1 is an outer end elevation of my device, showing the outline of awagon standing parallel with the curb. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the platform.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

A is the upper surface of the platform, which, as shown, is made level and plain. Its parts, or the planks composing it, are united and stifiened by cleats or battens A on the under side, to which they are united by nails, screws, or any of the ordinary methods pursued in such structures. To the outer or street end of the platform are hinged the legs or supports B, which, as shown, may be made of a single bench or piece, or in two parts, one on each side of the platform. As shown, the

hinges of these legs are so arranged as to fold the legs under the platform when they are not in use. A brace, B, extending from the side of the platform, engages the legs by hooks or otherwise, andkeeps the legs in the desired upright position when in use, and also stiffens and stays the legs, so as to make the platform secure and stiff when in use. These legs or supports are of any desired length to bring the platform into the desired and proper rela tive elevation with respect to the floor of the truck, wagon, or dray. This will generally be about the same height for all vehicles, so that the same platform will serve for all,with about equal adaptability to each. If the top of the curbstone is sufficiently high abovethe' street, the inner or pavement end of the platform will rest directly upon it, Without any legs or other means for further raising it.

Ordinarily, however, it will be preferable to have this inner or pavement end a little more elevated than the curb would bring it, and I have provided short legs or supports 13*, as 5 shown, which may be hinged to the platform in a manner similar to the legs B, and have braces 13*", as shown, to keep them in an upright position. These short legs bring this inner end of the platform up on a level with the outer or street end thereof and give the upper surface of the platform the proper elevation with respect to the bottom of the truck or wagon bed. As thus elevated above the pavement there would be a step between the pavement and the truck, which would be inconvenient in handling goods, and I have cured this defect by placing an incline at this point, as shown at O. This incline renders the ascent from the pavement or sidewalk to the platform easy and practicable for hand trucks and barrows, and renders the roll ing of barrels and bales or the removal or upsetting of crates and boxes easy and safe. The incline may be secured rigidly to the :5 platform, or may be hingedor swung thereupon in such a way as to accommodate itself to any position or situation.

As thus constructed the platform is complete for general use-unloading boxes, crates, o bales, barrels, hogsheads, piece-goods, ma-

chinery, &c.; but when it is desired to unload loose materialsuch as coal, kindling-wood, or other analogous or loose goods or material the addition of side boards along one side, or 5 along one side and one end, will be found advantageous, and I have provided for the ad dition' of such parts, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, where D represents a side board placed along one side of the platform, having standards D secured to it and set in staples d, driven into the edges of the platform.

To aid in sustaining the side board and prevent it from breaking down under a heavy pressure-such as a load of coals or other heavy material--I provide braces or stays D*, which extend from a point up the ends of the side board to the ends of the platform, where they are attached, as shown in Fig. 1. These braces D can readily be unhooked from the 0 platform and the side board removed therefrom.

As already stated, a board similar to board D may, if desired, be secured upon the end of the platform,'thus giving two elevated sides. 5 The use and advantages of my device are apparent, and have been sufficiently set out in the opening paragraphs of this specifica tion. It is apparent that many modifications and 0 changes may be made in the details without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the benefits of my invention. Many such have already been named in the body of the description. Many more will suggest them- 5 selves to the minds of all practical mechanics.

forms, as the requirements of each casei. 6.,

reaching from side to side of the wagon or truck body-will be about the same; but of course this can be changed as desired.

The device can be made of light material and still possess sufficient strength and durability to last a long time under constant use. Its weight will be such as to enable one man to put it in place, if necessary, or to remove it; and two men can do it with ease.

When not in use, it is designed to remo e the platform from the street and take it imo the store or wareroom, put it in the cellar or vault or otherwise dispose of it, until again required for loading or unloading, when its light portable character enables it to be taken away with ease and dispatch. When out of use, the legs or supports will be folded under it, the side boards taken off, and, if desired, the incline also folded under it.

If desired, the platform can be made with legs or feet of same length at both ends and rest upon the surface of the street at both ends; but I prefer the construction shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. A portable platform adapted to extend out from a curbstone and receive goods from a wagon, truck, or dray driven parallel with the curbstone.

2. A portable platform for use as described, consisting of a flat upper surface and folding legs or supports, as described.

3. A portable platform for use as described, having the folding legs and incline on one end, as set forth.

- 4. A portable platform for use as described, having an adjustable or hinged incline, as set forth.

5. A portable platform for use as described, having folding legs, an incline on the front end, and removable side boards, substantially as described.

6. A portable platform for use as described, consisting of the surface A, hinged legs B B*, having braces B B**, the front incline, C, and the removable board or boards D, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH H. L. TUOK.

Witnesses:

E. D. GRANT, H. D. PULLEN/ 

